Top Football Plays Of 2016
Sep 20 (Sat)
8:15 p.m.
Sweet 16 Bracket
The seeding was determined by a vote on Facebook from a list of 20 nominated plays that generated more than 6,000 votes. Here's the results of that vote:
| Seed | Play |
|---|---|
| (3) | Bobo One Handed TD |
| (4) | Witherspoon Interception |
| 3. | McCartney Fumble Return |
| 4. | Liufau To Fields |
| 5. | Oliver Punt Return |
| 6. | Bobo To Lindsay |
| 7. | Montez To Ross |
| 8. | Bobo One-Handed (CSU) |
| 9. | Olugbode TD |
| 10. | Awuzie Run Down |
| 11. | Montez To Fields |
| 12. | Montez To Ento |
| 13. | Lindsay 75-Yard TD |
| 14. | Gilbert Strip Sack |
| 15. | Gamboa Pick Six |
| 16. | Liufau Rushing TD |
| 17. | Kelley Fumble Recovery |
| 18. | Thompson Interception |
| 19. | Liufau To MacIntyre |
| 20. | Olugbode Fumble Recovery |
Championship Matchup: 3 vs. 4
Seed 3: Steven Montez 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo vs. Oregon. After having a one-handed grab in the end zone ruled incomplete earlier in the game, Bobo gave replay officials enough evidence to call this one a score. With the Buffs trailing 38-33, Montez hit Bobo near the left side of the end zone, with Bobo making another spectacular one-handed catch. Again, the play was originally called incomplete — but for the second time in three end zone replays in the game, the Buffs were awarded a touchdown. Montez and Bobo then hooked up for the two-point conversion and 41-38 lead.
Seed 4: Ahkello Witherspoon interception in end zone vs. Oregon. On a day when big plays seemed to occur on every possession, CU's defense came up with the difference maker. After the Ducks had driven to a first-and-goal from the CU 7-yard line with 48 seconds left in the game, Witherspoon went high in the air in front of Ducks receiver Darren Carrington to intercept Dakota Prukop's pass and clinch a 41-38 Colorado win.
Vote Friday, Dec. 23
Final 4 Matchup: 1 vs. 4
Seed 1: Derek McCartney 18-yard fumble return for touchdown vs. Michigan. Early in the first quarter, Buffs cornerback Chidobe Awuzie produced a big sack on Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight, forcing a fumble in the process. McCartney — whose grandfather, legendary CU coach Bill McCartney, was at the game — scooped the ball up and returned it for a touchdown, helping CU to an early 14-0 lead.
Seed 4: Ahkello Witherspoon interception in end zone vs. Oregon. On a day when big plays seemed to occur on every possession, CU's defense came up with the difference maker. After the Ducks had driven to a first-and-goal from the CU 7-yard line with 48 seconds left in the game, Witherspoon went high in the air in front of Ducks receiver Darren Carrington to intercept Dakota Prukop's pass and clinch a 41-38 Colorado win.
Vote Friday, Dec. 23
Final Four Matchup: 2 vs. 3
Seed 2: Sefo Liufau 70-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields vs. Michigan. Less than a minute into the third quarter of the game, Liufau uncorked a perfect toss to a streaking Fields for the score. Liufau had suffered a severely sprained ankle on the previous play, but stayed in the game to make the throw and give the Buffs a 28-24 lead.
Seed 3: Steven Montez 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo vs. Oregon. After having a one-handed grab in the end zone ruled incomplete earlier in the game, Bobo gave replay officials enough evidence to call this one a score. With the Buffs trailing 38-33, Montez hit Bobo near the left side of the end zone, with Bobo making another spectacular one-handed catch. Again, the play was originally called incomplete — but for the second time in three end zone replays in the game, the Buffs were awarded a touchdown. Montez and Bobo then hooked up for the two-point conversion and 41-38 lead.
Vote Friday, Dec. 23
Elite 8 Matchup: 3 vs. 6
Seed 3: Steven Montez 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo vs. Oregon. After having a one-handed grab in the end zone ruled incomplete earlier in the game, Bobo gave replay officials enough evidence to call this one a score. With the Buffs trailing 38-33, Montez hit Bobo near the left side of the end zone, with Bobo making another spectacular one-handed catch. Again, the play was originally called incomplete — but for the second time in three end zone replays in the game, the Buffs were awarded a touchdown. Montez and Bobo then hooked up for the two-point conversion and 41-38 lead.
Seed 6: Bryce Bobo 46-yard catch vs. Colorado State. Bobo's catch wasn't for a touchdown, but it was a terrific one-handed grab that earned him a spot on ESPN's SportsCenter, and it set up a 1-yard Phillip Lindsay run that produced a 31-0 halftime lead.
Vote Thursday, Dec. 22
Elite 8 Matchup: 2 vs. 10
Seed 2: Sefo Liufau 70-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields vs. Michigan. Less than a minute into the third quarter of the game, Liufau uncorked a perfect toss to a streaking Fields for the score. Liufau had suffered a severely sprained ankle on the previous play, but stayed in the game to make the throw and give the Buffs a 28-24 lead.
Seed 10: Isaiah Oliver 68-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. UCLA. Coming into the game, Colorado hadn't had a punt return for a score in 11 years. Oliver ended that drought at the perfect time. With CU holding on to a narrow 13-10 lead, he took the punt, zig-zagged up the middle, then outraced a pair of defenders down the sideline for the score and a 10-point CU cushion, 20-10, with just 5:27 left in the game.
Vote Thursday, Dec. 22
Elite 8 Matchup: 4 vs. 5
Seed 4: Ahkello Witherspoon interception in end zone vs. Oregon. On a day when big plays seemed to occur on every possession, CU's defense came up with the difference maker. After the Ducks had driven to a first-and-goal from the CU 7-yard line with 48 seconds left in the game, Witherspoon went high in the air in front of Ducks receiver Darren Carrington to intercept Dakota Prukop's pass and clinch a 41-38 Colorado win.
Seed 5: Steven Montez 48-yard touchdown pass to Devin Ross vs. Oregon. With Liufau sidelined by the ankle injury, Montez put up record-setting numbers against the Ducks. His day included a big 48-yard strike over the middle to Ross, who made a beautiful fingertip catch, then held onto the ball long enough to stretch it over the goal line. The play was originally ruled an incompletion, but after instant replay review, the Buffs had a touchdown and a 33-17 lead.
Vote Tuesday, Dec. 20
Elite 8 Matchup: 1 vs. 8
Seed 1: Derek McCartney 18-yard fumble return for touchdown vs. Michigan. Early in the first quarter, Buffs cornerback Chidobe Awuzie produced a big sack on Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight, forcing a fumble in the process. McCartney — whose grandfather, legendary CU coach Bill McCartney, was at the game — scooped the ball up and returned it for a touchdown, helping CU to an early 14-0 lead.
Seed 8: Bryce Bobo 67-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Lindsay vs. USC. In need of an offensive spark after being shut out in the first half, the Buffs got on the board when they dug into their bag of tricks. Bobo took a lateral from Montez to the left side of the field, then uncorked a bomb to Lindsay for the score, pulling the Buffs to within 14-7
Vote Tuesday, Dec. 20
Sweet 16 Matchup: 2 vs. 15
Seed 2: Sefo Liufau 70-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields vs. Michigan. Less than a minute into the third quarter of the game, Liufau uncorked a perfect toss to a streaking Fields for the score. Liufau had suffered a severely sprained ankle on the previous play, but stayed in the game to make the throw and give the Buffs a 28-24 lead.
Seed 15: Sefo Liufau 11-yard touchdown run vs. Washington State. In one of the biggest games in years at Folsom Field, Liufau's third rushing touchdown of the day gave the Buffs the lead for good. Liufau faked to Kyle Evans going to the left, then kept it himself to give CU a 28-24 lead in a game the Buffs eventually won, 38-24.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 7 vs. 10
Seed 7: Phillip Lindsay 75-yard touchdown run vs. Arizona State. On the first play of the third quarter, Lindsay went up the middle and didn't stop running until he hit the end zone. It was CU's longest play from scrimmage all season, and it gave the Buffs a 30-10 lead in what proved to be their first win in a six-game win streak.
Seed 10: Isaiah Oliver 68-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. UCLA. Coming into the game, Colorado hadn't had a punt return for a score in 11 years. Oliver ended that drought at the perfect time. With CU holding on to a narrow 13-10 lead, he took the punt, zig-zagged up the middle, then outraced a pair of defenders down the sideline for the score and a 10-point CU cushion, 20-10, with just 5:27 left in the game.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 3 vs. 14
Seed 3: Steven Montez 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo vs. Oregon. After having a one-handed grab in the end zone ruled incomplete earlier in the game, Bobo gave replay officials enough evidence to call this one a score. With the Buffs trailing 38-33, Montez hit Bobo near the left side of the end zone, with Bobo making another spectacular one-handed catch. Again, the play was originally called incomplete — but for the second time in three end zone replays in the game, the Buffs were awarded a touchdown. Montez and Bobo then hooked up for the two-point conversion and 41-38 lead.
Seed 14: Steven Montez 63-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields vs. Oregon State. Big because it was Fields' third touchdown catch of the day and because it gave the Buffs a 20-3 lead early in the second quarter, taking the air out of Oregon State.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 6 vs. 11
Seed 6: Bryce Bobo 46-yard catch vs. Colorado State. Bobo's catch wasn't for a touchdown, but it was a terrific one-handed grab that earned him a spot on ESPN's SportsCenter, and it set up a 1-yard Phillip Lindsay run that produced a 31-0 halftime lead.
Seed 11: Jimmie Gilbert sack, forced fumble vs. Washington State. CU's first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker finished the year with 10 sacks and six forced fumbles. He performed his specialty at the perfect time against the Cougars, squashing any hopes of a WSU comeback by sacking quarterback Luke Falk and forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter. CU's Addison Gillam pounced on the loose ball and the Buffs were one game closer to a Pac-12 South title.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 4 vs. 13
Seed 4: Ahkello Witherspoon interception in end zone vs. Oregon. On a day when big plays seemed to occur on every possession, CU's defense came up with the difference maker. After the Ducks had driven to a first-and-goal from the CU 7-yard line with 48 seconds left in the game, Witherspoon went high in the air in front of Ducks receiver Darren Carrington to intercept Dakota Prukop's pass and clinch a 41-38 Colorado win.
Seed 13: Rick Gamboa 20-yard interception return for touchdown vs. Oregon State. A Buffs defense that prided itself on takeaways produced its second touchdown of the year when a hit by linebacker Kenneth Olugbode popped the ball loose and Gamboa was there to scoop it up and race to the end zone for a 37-6 CU lead.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 5 vs. 12
Seed 5: Steven Montez 48-yard touchdown pass to Devin Ross vs. Oregon. With Liufau sidelined by the ankle injury, Montez put up record-setting numbers against the Ducks. His day included a big 48-yard strike over the middle to Ross, who made a beautiful fingertip catch, then held onto the ball long enough to stretch it over the goal line. The play was originally ruled an incompletion, but after instant replay review, the Buffs had a touchdown and a 33-17 lead.
Seed 12: Steven Montez 69-yard pass touchdown pass to Kabion Ento vs. Idaho State. This play wasn't a difference-maker in the game by any stretch. Rather, it was CU's seventh touchdown in a 56-7 win. But it was the first pass of Montez's collegiate career and the first catch for Ento as a Buff.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 8 vs. 9
Seed 8: Bryce Bobo 67-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Lindsay vs. USC. In need of an offensive spark after being shut out in the first half, the Buffs got on the board when they dug into their bag of tricks. Bobo took a lateral from Montez to the left side of the field, then uncorked a bomb to Lindsay for the score, pulling the Buffs to within 14-7
Seed 9: Kenneth Olugbode 10-yard fumble return for touchdown vs. Utah. CU's final defensive touchdown of the regular season was a big one. With Colorado still holding a 20-16 lead, Buffs linebacker Rick Gamboa punched the ball loose from Utes running back Joe Williams. Olugbode was again on the spot to grab the loose ball and return it 10 yards for a 27-16 Colorado lead.
Sweet 16 Matchup: 1 vs. 16
Seed 1: Derek McCartney 18-yard fumble return for touchdown vs. Michigan. Early in the first quarter, Buffs cornerback Chidobe Awuzie produced a big sack on Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight, forcing a fumble in the process. McCartney — whose grandfather, legendary CU coach Bill McCartney, was at the game — scooped the ball up and returned it for a touchdown, helping CU to an early 14-0 lead.
Seed 16: Chidobe Awuzie tackle on 93-yard kick return vs. Utah. With the Buffs having just broken a 13-13 tie on a Liufau touchdown pass to Fields, the Utes threatened to tie the game up in a hurry when returner Kyle Fulks took the kick and raced toward the end zone. But a streaking Awuzie — who earlier had recovered a Ute fumble inside the CU 10-yard line — had just enough speed and enough of an angle to push Fulks out of bounds at the 3-yard line. The Buffs defense then held the Utes to a field goal, keeping the Buffs in the lead, 20-16.